The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-06
WITH A TRUCK DRIVER.
RECKLESS ooDolN0 UNDER HORSES
FEET At EVERY CROSSING.
A Reporters Experience ON the Seat
with Drivers OF Heavy wagons-Peopis
ON Foot Seem "a 10 TO Blanc for Most
Accidents.

with Drivers OF Heavy Wagons-feopte
ON Foot Seem "a 10 to Blanc for Most
Accidents.
A reporter was sent out to spend q day or
two on the drivers seats. The heaviest
trucks were selected After negotiations with
several drivers he finally struck a bargain
with Young man named Jimmy, and 30
cured a scat beside him for ride up Broad
way from Rector to Canal street on load OF
canned tomatoes. Broadway was not I'M
usually crowded, as it was early in the day,
but the ride developed several startling in
cidents Asked II he bad met with many
nishaps, Jimmy replied: mot very many
Ii is pretty tough 10 keep from dong it some
times, though, and l make close calls for
people crossin' streets, but never run over
nobody. Women are the worst. They'll
stand still aud look up an down the street as
long as 1t is oil clear, and then, Just when
half q score wagons come in bunch, they'll
try 10 give their husbands another chance by
lodging right in among the hosses
"Whoa-upn yelled Jimmy, Is no nearly
fell backward ia his efforts to stop tho team,
and there was an exempiifcation OF bis re-
mark AT Cortlendt street an old lady had
taken too many chances tor her feeble limbs
and was nearly under the horses feet, but an
athletic, quick witted young man seized her
MS she fell and assisted her out Of danger.
AT Fulton street there was, Is usual, a great
jam, and Jimmy, as he expressed 1t, had to
keep his eye peeled" A number OF people
apparently had not another second To lose,
md rushed peIl nell across Broadway. All
Of them escaped, however, although ALI old
gentleman of robust build moved of with
the conviction stamped upon his couatonance
that be would have been seriously damaged,
IL not entirely ruined, but for his foresight
in raising his umbrella for protection from
threatening milk wagon.
Opposite the postofiice lady who looked
like stage schoolmarm, and who escaped
danger by at least fifty feet, halted on the
curb to threateningiy shake her sunshade ut
tho drivers collectively, while two men with
law books under their arms calmly pursued
their way, notwithstanding their shoulders
were grazed by the noses Of ALI Adams ex-
press team, while furniture van left axle
grease Oh their coat tails. 1t was not rare
thing during the trip to see people rush
right under the noses Of horses, when mis-
step or the slightest contact with another
equally rush pedestrian must have thrown
them under the animals feet. Near Duane
street. owing TO u collision of truck hubs, u
Grated sewing machine was dumped from the
top Of "a load on to an empty truck, while Oh
the opposite side, about where II would have
fallen had it gone that way, stood lady and
two children The accident caused u gen
erai stoppage, and the polo Of another wagon
smashed one Of the boxes and opened up two
cans OF Jnnmy's tomatoes, which were
greoiily captured by two small boys at tho
imminent risk OF their limbs. A little way
10 the rear beer wagon caught the proceed
ing wagon on the hook with which the for
ward end Of the poles Of such wagons are
provided, and backing became necessary,
which caused the horse Of following cab
10 shy Ihereupon the two young ladies
who occupied tho cab precipitately fled,
sought tho sidewalk that was turtbest from
them and narrowly escaped being run over.
The profuse vocabulary u the truck driver
Is painfully circumscribed as 10 the number
OF phrases in vogue, but unlimited as to We
hemence 1t is fact, however, that thore !,
very little profanity recklessly cast adrift
The drivers, US IA rule rarely give it expires
sion, but allow it to accumulate for particu-
larry trying emergencies. A driver who was
Intercepted ON the sub ect explained that "a
good solid oath lightens heavy load wonder
fully sometimes, and some Of them seem TO
have faith ia its accomplishing many other
things
The return trip was made with grizzly
bearded, shaggy eyebrowed old man, whose
SLOUGH hat seemed determined to outsloueh
ali Of its competitors He said he had been
twenty years teamin'. Used to be more aris-
tocratic and drive two spankin' horses In
red wagon for big dry goods house but the
swells had no Use for him now, and he bad to
haul lime and horse hair for plasterer.
Near Franklin street a truck coming up
street struck drunken tramp, who was
staggering across West street, and but for
tho fact that the Stagger he was at that mo
mont INDUCING was from instead OF toward
the truck he would have been crushed under
the wheels, but the impetus added by tho
contact with the truck deposited him safely
in the gutter, where a policeman captured
him.
IL was now NiONhf AAO4A s<o
altitude Of the lime wagon seat West street
in both directions appeared TO be solidly
packed with teams, and il seemed impossible
that all could reach the warehouses and rail
road by O'clock Yet the army assembled
was not all, for every side street was con-
tributing enough to fill any gap that would
admit another team, and away up the side
streets, as far as the eye could reach, the pro
cession was moving steadily toward West
street. In addition 10 the thousands Of
trucks and wagons there were scores Of street
cars crowding their way along West street,
the several drivers seeming TO be engaged in
O championship whistling and yelling match
Ii looked as if certain death must result
from Oh attempt to pass through that mass
Of animals and vehicles, and yet presto all
Is changed A lane across the street, wido
enough 10 admit two teams abreast, appears
as il by magic, the horses standing neck and
neck in straight lines ON either side and not o
driver swearing Why this transformation
Young lady on clutches is crossing the
street and she is unanimously accorded tho
right Of way, without even policeman's in
terferonco. The lady reached tho sidewalk
and every team was again in motion.
But few people attempted TO cross the
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